I made 6-figures the 1st year I started freelancing
By year 3, I made 8X what I used to at my corporate job
I'm now heading into year 15.
What's the secret to a successful freelancing career?
𧡠The 7 C's of Freelancing ‡οΈ
By year 3, I made 8X what I used to at my corporate job
I'm now heading into year 15.
What's the secret to a successful freelancing career?
𧡠The 7 C's of Freelancing ‡οΈ
1/ The 1st C is "Craft".
That's what you do: copy, design, programming, consulting, editing, w/e...
Problem is -- that's where most freelancers stop.
Yes, your craft is important.
It's foundational.
But without the other 6 Cs... you won't make money.
That's what you do: copy, design, programming, consulting, editing, w/e...
Problem is -- that's where most freelancers stop.
Yes, your craft is important.
It's foundational.
But without the other 6 Cs... you won't make money.
2/ The 2nd C is "Connection"
This is your ability to reach out to people, talk to them, and make a connection.
Yes, there's sales, negotiation, and deal-making involved.
But at the root of it all is your ability to make a genuine impact and impression.
Can you create trust?
This is your ability to reach out to people, talk to them, and make a connection.
Yes, there's sales, negotiation, and deal-making involved.
But at the root of it all is your ability to make a genuine impact and impression.
Can you create trust?
3/ The 3rd C is "Conduct"
Landing clients is one thing, managing them is another.
Conduct is how you manage expectations, keep clients happy, but also draw boundaries.
This is about reading the room and problem-solving on the fly while maintaining a cool exterior.
Landing clients is one thing, managing them is another.
Conduct is how you manage expectations, keep clients happy, but also draw boundaries.
This is about reading the room and problem-solving on the fly while maintaining a cool exterior.
4/ The first three Cs form a triangle of stability.
It's not enough to be able to DO the work.
You must also SELL the work...
And MANAGE the work.
And inside that triangle is...
It's not enough to be able to DO the work.
You must also SELL the work...
And MANAGE the work.
And inside that triangle is...
5/ The 4th C, which is your core.
Your core is how grounded you are.
How much inner work you've done.
Do you give off a solid vibe... or are you shaky and squirrelly?
Most of us have trauma/rackets we need to release.
Do it. Do the inner work.
People can pick up on that stuff.
Your core is how grounded you are.
How much inner work you've done.
Do you give off a solid vibe... or are you shaky and squirrelly?
Most of us have trauma/rackets we need to release.
Do it. Do the inner work.
People can pick up on that stuff.
6/ Who can help you work through all that shit from your past?
The 5th C: A coach.
Hiring one from 2010-2014 was the best decision I made when I started freelancing.
I grew up poor. Had a chip off my shoulder. Negative mindset.
My coach helped me move past those things.
The 5th C: A coach.
Hiring one from 2010-2014 was the best decision I made when I started freelancing.
I grew up poor. Had a chip off my shoulder. Negative mindset.
My coach helped me move past those things.
7/ Those five Cs together is a REAL foundation.
You can really move in the world when all five click.
But you don't work on them sequentially.
That's silly and a lame excuse to not get out there.
No, you build your wings as you're falling.
That's real life. Which leads to...
You can really move in the world when all five click.
But you don't work on them sequentially.
That's silly and a lame excuse to not get out there.
No, you build your wings as you're falling.
That's real life. Which leads to...
8/ The sixth C: Context.
This C is about understanding the lay of the land.
Who are the key players?
Who has their ears?
What's affecting their game right now?
It's knowing your industry and who the top companies are.
But also what's going on right now.
This C is about understanding the lay of the land.
Who are the key players?
Who has their ears?
What's affecting their game right now?
It's knowing your industry and who the top companies are.
But also what's going on right now.
9/ If you can connect and network...
Get into rooms you "don't belong in"...
Ask questions that are "too personal"...
Hear the hot goss you're "not supposed to"...
You develop a superpower.
That superpower is the 6th C: Context.
Get into rooms you "don't belong in"...
Ask questions that are "too personal"...
Hear the hot goss you're "not supposed to"...
You develop a superpower.
That superpower is the 6th C: Context.
10/ Context requires you to have
β’ A strong Core
β’ An ability to Connect, and...
β’ The Conduct to show you're "one of them"
All of a sudden, when you walk into a room, you carry weight and gravity.
You know the game better than them.
β’ A strong Core
β’ An ability to Connect, and...
β’ The Conduct to show you're "one of them"
All of a sudden, when you walk into a room, you carry weight and gravity.
You know the game better than them.
11/ This leads you to becoming the 7th C:
A Center of Influence (CoI)
When you're a CoI, you're no longer "just a vendor".
You're not someone they hired for a job.
They're not looking for you to simply complete a project.
A Center of Influence (CoI)
When you're a CoI, you're no longer "just a vendor".
You're not someone they hired for a job.
They're not looking for you to simply complete a project.
12/ When you're a CoI, they're looking to you...
β’ For your opinion of the industry and where it's going
β’ For your network of vendors you can recommend
β’ For your access to potential partners
β’ For your expertise on other vendors
β’ For your advice due to your reach
β’ For your opinion of the industry and where it's going
β’ For your network of vendors you can recommend
β’ For your access to potential partners
β’ For your expertise on other vendors
β’ For your advice due to your reach
13/ Being a "Center of Influence" gives you leverage. Power. A voice in the room.
That translates to fees that are 3, 5, 10X what your fellow vendors are charging.
You want to be a Center of Influence.
Not a vendor selling their freelancing services.
That translates to fees that are 3, 5, 10X what your fellow vendors are charging.
You want to be a Center of Influence.
Not a vendor selling their freelancing services.
14/ Now, out of all 7 C's, I'd say working on yourself (Core) comes first.
But a ΓΌber-close 2nd (and almost 1st) is: Connection.
It's a bit of a "chicken-n-egg" situation.
Forcing yourself to connect makes you grow.
Inner work gives you confidence to network.
But a ΓΌber-close 2nd (and almost 1st) is: Connection.
It's a bit of a "chicken-n-egg" situation.
Forcing yourself to connect makes you grow.
Inner work gives you confidence to network.
15/ But ultimately...
Your ability to CONNECT with people gives you a leg up in all 6 of the other Cs.
IMO, it could potentially be MORE important than your craft.
Your ability to CONNECT with people gives you a leg up in all 6 of the other Cs.
IMO, it could potentially be MORE important than your craft.
16/ Again, don't get me wrong... you should be good at your craft.
But you all know that 1 guy who's better at talking than doing.
And you hate them.
Why is that guy, who does mediocre work, landing bigger clients?
It's their ability to connect.
But you all know that 1 guy who's better at talking than doing.
And you hate them.
Why is that guy, who does mediocre work, landing bigger clients?
It's their ability to connect.
17/ Connection lets you:
β’Β Find better (coaches)
β’ Manage clients better (conduct)
β’ Build mirrors for self-growth (core)
β’ Naturally become a (center of influence)
β’ Surround urself with good peeps and build (core)
β’ People tell you insider stuff they shouldn't (context)
β’Β Find better (coaches)
β’ Manage clients better (conduct)
β’ Build mirrors for self-growth (core)
β’ Naturally become a (center of influence)
β’ Surround urself with good peeps and build (core)
β’ People tell you insider stuff they shouldn't (context)
18/ So how can you develop your ability to connect better?
I wrote a 4-Part Guide (9,451 words) that goes deep into exactly how to connect with people.
I'll send it to you for free.
Here's what you need to do:
I wrote a 4-Part Guide (9,451 words) that goes deep into exactly how to connect with people.
I'll send it to you for free.
Here's what you need to do:
Loading suggestions...